Dog Parks
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Dog parks can help socialise your dog and get them some off-leash exersise in a safe area.
While there are always positives and negatives to any area, the benefits you get will depend on
1. How well you understand Canine body language, and are able to read both your dog as well as the other dogs in the park.
2. Whether or not you and the other dog owners are supervising your dog
3. The times you go to the dog park,
4. Your dog's personality and how they get along with dogs of varying personalities.
Please DO NOT let your dog go and do what they want, just because it is an enclosed dog area.
Step in and help your dog if the other dogs get too rough or if multiple dogs are chasing them.
Even fenced-in dog parks are classed as public spaces. While you may not need to have the best recall, you must have Effective control. It's essential to understand what's going on and respond to keep your dog safe and happy, as well as to prevent your dog from attacking or intimidating other dogs.
Good Dog Park Etiquette
- Pick up after your dog.
- Ensure your dog is up to date on their vaccinations and flea and worming treatments.
- Ensure your dog is not sick or in heat.
- Avoid bringing Food and treats as this may cause a fight.
- Supervise and monitor your dog's body language and ensure they are always in your control, even in an off-leash play area.
- Respect other owners and their dogs
- Avoid bringing young children and strollers into the area, as this may trigger some dogs.
- Ask the owners before feeding or petting their dogs.
The immages below are from the “DOG PARK PROJECT: The IAABC has collaborated with Dr. Jessica Hekman and artist Lili Chin to create a series of posters for use by trainers, dog parks and community dog organizations to promote safety in dog parks and dog play.
Training at a dog park.
- Take your dog's favourite toys with you and teach your dog to play with you at the park, preferably when no other dogs are around at first.
- Rather than sitting still, walk around the park and Mark and reinforce him every time he comes next to you without being asked.
- Practice and reinforce the Name game
- Teach your dog to recall, then click the leash, then accompany them to meet any new dogs entering the park.
- If the dog entering is a friend, teach your dog to walk away from the gate, and let the dog come to you once they have entered. Or release your dog, after they have settled in and say something like "Go Say Hello"
- When your dog meets and sniffs a new dog, help them disengage after three seconds, move away, then, if both dogs are keen, re-engage
- Look for calming signals both from your dog and other dogs in the park. Mark, every time your dog uses calming signals in their interactions with other dogs.
- When your dog plays with other dogs, look for or introduce play pauses.
- When your dog becomes overwhelmed, put them back on the leash and walk them around the fence, either on the inside or the outside, or take them for a sniffari.
- If there is a lot going on at the park, consider leaving and walking outside. Find a quiet place outside to sit and watch, and teach functional relaxation and impulse control.
- As per the law in Western Australia, when walking your dog in a public space, such as a public enclosed dog park, the street or in public parks, reserves and bushland, you must keep your dog under effective control and not allow it to wander or bother other people, animals, or wildlife.
- Effective control means that the dog:
- Is within a short distance of the person in control of the dog at all times
- The person in control of the dog is carrying a leash, chain, cord or harness of sufficient strength and no longer than 2m (Measured from the base of the dog's neck)
- Responds to commands and comes when called
- Does not act in a threatening or aggressive manner toward other people or animals
- Does not cause damage to flora or fauna
- Does not enter a lake or water channel
- Does not cause a nuisance to other people